NEWPORT, Ark. — Video released to NEA Report on Oct. 8 concerns an Arkansas State Police encounter with a pedestrian who was arrested after disputing a trooper’s account that he had been walking in a traffic lane.
An Arkansas State Police use-of-force report identifies the man as John W. Winningham, of Bradford, and the trooper as Sgt. Robby Stewart.
According to Stewart’s narrative, he was traveling in Newport shortly after 4 p.m. on Sept. 22 when he heard Newport police radio traffic about a man walking in the roadway near Ace Hardware. Stewart wrote that he saw the man in a traffic lane on Arkansas 367, activated his blue lights and pulled into a nearby parking lot.
Stewart said he got out of his patrol vehicle, directed Winningham to stand in front of it and explained that he could not walk in the traffic lane, but video shows the man questioning the trooper – which irritates the Stewart. Winningham denied walking in the lane. The trooper explained that he was in the road, even if on the edge.
When Stewart asked for identification, Winningham asked why, the report states. Stewart wrote that he demanded identification and repeated the request twice more before moving to handcuff Winningham for obstructing governmental operations.
According to Stewart, Winningham moved backward as the trooper approached. Stewart reported gripping his right wrist and pushing him toward the front of the patrol vehicle while directing him to put his hands behind his back.
Stewart wrote that Winningham tried to turn around and pull away before the trooper secured his hands behind his back and handcuffed him.
During a pat-down, Stewart reported smelling alcohol on Winningham’s breath. Asked whether he had been drinking, Winningham replied, “I had a pint,” according to the narrative.
Stewart said Winningham refused a preliminary breath test at the scene and again at the Jackson County Jail. The report states that Winningham agreed to an eye-movement sobriety test, during which Stewart recorded six of six possible clues.
A Newport police officer searched the bags Winningham was carrying and found no weapons or items of evidentiary value, according to Stewart.
The report lists four charges: obstructing a highway, obstructing governmental operations, resisting arrest and public intoxication.
Stewart’s narrative says Winningham entered a negotiated guilty plea the following morning. The report does not specify which charges were included in that plea or the sentence imposed.
The incident happened on Sept. 22, 2026, but Stewart wrote Aug. 22, 2026 in his narrative.
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